The condition of Pope Francis “continues to improve slightly” although he remains hospitalised with pneumonia, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
A CT scan of the pontiff’s chest “showed a normal development” of inflammation in his slight lungs, the Vatican alerted in its Wednesday evening message, while the “mild kidney failure” that was diagnosed on Sunday “has passed.” However, doctors’ prognoses remain cautious.
“The clinical condition of the Holy Father over the last 24 hours has shown further slight improvement,” the Vatican said in a statement, without specifying whether his condition remains critical.
Francis spent his 13th night in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is reportedly eating normally and even performing some work duties. A Vatican spokesman said the head of the Roman Catholic Church has been inundated with letters and cards wishing him well.
Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health continue at St. Peter’s Basilica, in cities across Italy and abroad. Services have also been held in front of Gemelli Hospital, which has long been a favourite place for pontiffs to stay.
Francis was hospitalised on February 14 and was later diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and pneumonia in both his lungs.
The Pope is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy in his youth and had part of a slight removed while studying to become a priest in his native Argentina.
In recent years, the Pope has had health problems. In March 2023, he was hospitalised with a diagnosis of pneumonia. He also underwent colon surgery in June 2021. The pontiff was often seen travelling in a wheelchair or with a cane due to sciatic nerve pain and knee problems.
